Chapter 13: Surprise
My breath hitched as I found myself staring straight into those blue-grey eyes.
I was instantly brought back to that past to the last time I looked into those familiar eyes. That time when I pushed him away from me. That time where I made a stupid decision I regretted greatly. That time where I caused that hurt to appear in his eyes.
Mrs. Mason was obviously oblivious to the silence Tristan and I shared as we stared at each other. We were oblivious to what Mrs. Mason was telling Tristan until he broke eye contact with me to answer his mom.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Tristan laughed, hearing his mom's last comment about her almost being late to her meeting. His voice was so familiar. His laugh was so familiar.
Without Tristan's eyes on me, I was able to breathe again. In that second we locked eyes, I noticed the confusion and perplexed look in his eyes; the creased eyebrows.
Mrs. Mason laughed it off before getting serious, "Well, I got to go in a minute. And of course you remember Sienna right?"
Mrs. Mason looked pointedly at me with a smile on her face. Tristan looked back at me with a smile that showed off his white, straight teeth.
"Yeah…" he answered slowly as his smile grew a bit wider, absorbing the fact that I was standing in front of him; standing beside his mom.
"Of course you do," Mrs. Mason said immediately as if there was no other answer to her rhetorical question. "You guys were so close before."
I just stared back at Tristan, trying to calm my beating heart before it would explode out of my chest. It was evident that Tristan and I couldn't help looking at each other, thinking our own thoughts—as if we were in our own little world.
Mrs. Mason was oblivious to Tristan's and my inattention to her as she continued in a fast business-like pace, "Anyways, I offered her a ride back to her house since it's about 100 degrees out. But of course I can't take her so you can take her. Okay?"
"Uh, yeah," Tristan answered after trying to comprehend his mother's rapid explanation, breaking eye contact once again.
"Good," Mrs. Mason said satisfied. She nodded at Tristan and turned to me with a quick smile. "Well, I better go. Nice seeing you again Sienna."
Before I knew it, she took off across the parking lot and walked hurriedly over to her Mercedes. I tore my gaze away from her to find myself staring up at Tristan.
I was able to stop looking into Tristan's grey-blue eyes. I took the opportunity to realize that Tristan was taller than me and the plain white shirt he had on emphasized his golden tan.
Back then, Tristan was about two inches taller than me but now… well, I don't know how much taller he was now. I'm not good with inches and feet.
An indescribable buzz was in the air as Tristan and I stood across from each other in silence—except for the busy streets and people walking around. It was slightly discomforting; I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to say.
"It's so good to see you," were the words that escaped Tristan. I felt something in my chest tighten at the sincerity in his words.
Before I could say anything, Tristan took the box of donuts from my hands—which I've forgotten I was holding—and placed it on the top of his brother's black Lexus. He turned back to me and suddenly enveloped me in his arms.
An overwhelming emotion washed over me and all I could do was go weak under his arms, wrapping my own arms around his torso. I felt that this hug was due so long ago and it felt so good to actually be in Tristan's presence once again.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as he pulled away. I watched as he casually stuck his hands into his front jean pockets.
"I'm staying with Seth for the summer," I answered breathlessly, looking up at him. I shrugged my shoulders.
"Really? Wow, this is a surprise," Tristan stated. He couldn't help but smile at me. There were so many expressions I could read on his face: surprise, shock, amused, slightly confused.
"Yeah, a surprise for me too," I agreed with a sad smile as I remembered how my parents told me the huge news about me coming here a day before my airplane flight here.
"Yeah…" he trailed off, partly because he didn't know what else to say about my sudden appearance. "Well, we better get these in the car before the glaze starts to melt."
He nodded behind him towards the donut box on top of his older brother's car. I nodded in agreement as I walked to passenger side as Tristan walked over to the driver's side with donut box in hand.
I found myself in a leather interior and a decently clean car. There was a soda can in the console but other than that, there wasn't any litter in the car. Must be a new.
I closed the passenger car door and noticed that the window was down, before I turned to see Tristan twist around in his seat, placing the donut box on the back seats.
Tristan turned back into his seat and turned the keys, starting the engine. Before Tristan pressed on the gas pedal, he turned to me.
"So…I'm driving you back to your house?" he asked as if he didn't know. Where else would I go? It's not like I could show up to one of my old friend's house.
"Yeah," I answered.
I instantly wished I wasn't wearing what I was wearing. I was wishing I was wearing something nice with my hair down. I probably looked like a mess with my hair tied up and a few strands of hair out of its black hair elastic.
"How long have you been here?" he finally asked, resting his left hand on the steering wheel; giving him something to do.
"Um…I got here a few days ago," I answered. I couldn't get the sound of his voice out of my head.
We looked at each other for a few seconds, not knowing what else to say. Just when I was deciding to look away, he turned to the steering wheel and drove the car out of the parking lot. I looked out the open window as we passed by stores and restaurants.
I'm here…with Tristan! I couldn't help but get that thought out my head. That was the only thing I could think of; except for the billion questions I wanted to ask him.
"So… um," Tristan started. I turned my head away from the window to see him staring out the windshield as he pressed on the brakes. Our car idled behind another as we waited for the stoplight to turn green. I noticed pedestrians crossing the street.
I looked back at Tristan and willed myself to look into those once familiar grey-blue eyes. They were looking at me, just like they looked at me before. Those times I hung out with Tristan in middle school and the time when those same blue-grey eyes looked at me as we said goodbye to one another before I moved to New York.
"What have you been doing since you arrived?" he finally asked.
"Um…actually," I started. "I've just been spending my time at the house, practically doing boring stuff," I ended with a little laugh. I shocked myself at how honest and open I was to Tristan. I was usually quiet and reserved when I met people. I guess I was just so open with telling Tristan because that's how our relationship was back then. Back then, I was comfortable with Tristan.
But that was then and this is now. Things can change in two years. People can change in two years. How do I know if Tristan is still the same as back then? I bet I changed...
Tristan nodded with a slight smile on his face before turning his attention back to the stoplight. Just then the light turned green and Tristan cruised his way down the street.
I suddenly felt an urge to defend myself. He probably thinks I'm a social outcast or a lame-o for staying in the house like a hermit crab or something; spending my time by myself.
"I was actually supposed to hang out with Melody," I paused, glancing at Tristan to see if he would have a reaction to Melody's name. All Tristan did was nod his head.
I continued, "But Noah said that she was going to camp for two weeks so…"
I shrugged my shoulders, knowing he couldn't see it. I added as an afterthought, "I've been keeping in touch with Melody."
I suddenly shut my mouth, feeling stupid because I felt like I was ranting. I looked out the window and hoped the wind that came through would cool my pink cheeks. I couldn't help but notice how stiff I was sitting; the muscles in my body tight. Such an awkward situation...
The only thing I was conscious of was the wind, my heart beat, and the fact that Tristan was driving the car and not saying anything. As I let out a deep breath in order to calm myself, Tristan spoke up.
"I spoke to Melody a few days before she left for camp on Sunday," Tristan started. I sorted through the dates. Ally's party was on Friday. I came back home after the hotel night on Saturday. I left the airplane that Saturday night and I arrived in California on Sunday.
Tristan continued, "She didn't mention you were coming for the summer." He stopped at a red light and looked over at me.
"Yeah, it was unexpected," I informed him. "I actually found out on Saturday; the day before I arrived here."
"No wonder," Tristan said, slightly amused. "I talked to her on Friday."
I nodded and asked one of my billion questions, "You still hang out with Melody?"
I honestly didn't know who Melody hung out with anymore; I didn't know if she still hung out with the friends we hung out with before I left.
"Yeah," Tristan said with a reassuring nod. "We actually still hang out with the same people."
He turned his attention back to the road and stepped on the gas pedal. Tristan continued, "We still hang out with," he paused as he tried to think, "Courtney, Aubrey, Vivian. Landon, and Alex."
I smiled as I listened to the names of some of my former friends. At least they still hang out with each other; at least that didn't change.
"Oh, and Derek," Tristan added. I creased my eyebrows and looked at him.
"Derek?" I asked confused. I don't remember a friend named Derek. Should I remember a friend named Derek?
"Oh," Tristan laughed as if he were stupid. He looked at me with a laughing smile, "Sorry. I forgot. Derek actually moved here freshmen year of high school."
Oh my gosh. Why does Tristan have to be so attractive?
"Oh," I said a moment too late, my mind unable to concentrate on anything except for Tristan. I stared out the window and my brain actually started to work.
"Wait, isn't Derek Melody's boyfriend?" I asked a bit hesitantly as I turned back to Tristan.
"Yeah, how do you know?" Tristan asked obviously surprised. He couldn't help but look at me with a slight suspicion in his eyes.
"I went out to dinner with Seth and Noah last night. Noah filled me in on Melody's boyfriend."
"Well, that explains it," Tristan stated with a light laugh. Silence ensued for the next five minutes until Tristan spoke up again.
"Um…how's New York?"
"It's definitely different from California," came my easy reply. I found myself adding, "Whenever I do get to go out to Central Park or China Town or Times Square, it's really cool. It's busy."
I remembered the random days I would go there for shopping or something with my friends; the night of Ally's party which was located near Central Park. A smile appeared on my face as I thought about New York.
"You live in New York, New York?" Tristan asked surprisingly from beside me.
"No," I shook my head. "I live about an hour or an hour and a half away from there. My parents thought it would be safer to live out of central New York."
And they were right. I lived in a nice neighborhood and had amazing friends who lived near me. We also went to a great school. It's like living in a normal neighborhood; we didn't live as if we were in the city.
Suddenly, I heard something vibrate beside me and I looked down to see a phone in the middle console. Tristan quickly picked it up and answered.
"Hello?" Tristan asked. He had one hand on the steering wheel and one on the phone.
"Yeah, I'm coming," he reassured urgently. He listened to the person on the other line for a moment.
"You're not going to starve," he laughed. "I'm coming. Don't worry." The person said something and Tristan replied reassuringly, "Right now." Tristan closed the phone and dropped it back in the middle console.
Tristan stopped at another red light and turned to me. "Do you mind if we stop by my house first?" he asked with a slight grimace on his face. "I'm sorry but Scott says he's 'dying of starvation'."
I laughed along with Tristan, "Yeah. Of course."
"Cool," he said with a smile before driving down the street. I looked at Tristan as he checked the mirrors, switching lanes. I looked out the window and noticed that we were nearing his neighborhood.
"How old is Scott now?" I asked curiously, referring to Tristan's younger brother. I glanced at Tristan to catch his profile. I still couldn't grasp the fact that I was actually talking to Tristan again. I couldn't grasp the fact how grown up he looked; how tall he was now and the golden tan he somehow obtained since I've been gone.
"He's eight," Tristan answered easily as he turned a corner. I couldn't help but notice the slight bump of his bicep through his shirt. Yup, he has grown. He isn't the same guy I remembered back then. Well, of course he was. It's just that…he's grown. He matured; that was obvious.
We soon pulled up onto a driveway and Tristan cut the engine. He turned to me with the keys in his hand.
"I think you should come in, it might take a while," Tristan suggested as he grabbed the box from the back.
"Oh, okay," I said quickly as I opened the passenger door and stepped out into the driveway. It was hot and I could already tell that I'd be sweating if I stayed outside for another five minutes.
Before I could look around my surroundings; the neighboring houses and such, Tristan appeared by my side with the box in his hands. Suddenly, a small dog zipped past the neighbor's lawn and approached my feet. I smiled as I took in the small Shiatsu at my feet and couldn't help but be comforted that the Shiatsu was still here.
"Hey little puppy," I gushed as I bent down. I couldn't resist running my hand over its small furry head. The puppy didn't object so I petted it for a few more seconds before standing up.
Just looking into the puppy's wide eyes brought memories rushing back. I was instantly brought back to the days of Tristan and me as we hung out at his house. The first day Tristan and I saw the Shiatsu was when we were hanging out at his house. We discovered the dog, and didn't know who it belonged too. I can't recall why, but somehow we knew it wasn't a stray. The next day I came over Tristan's house, we saw the Shiatsu again. We soon figured out that it was the neighbor's but we didn't know the dog's name. We ended up giving the dog a name, though I forgot what we named her.
Anyways, the last day I saw this Shiatsu was before I moved. My mind suddenly pulled up a scene. A scene with Tristan and me standing in front of each other as we were saying goodbye. The Shiatsu came running by, interrupting our deep conversation.
I quietly laughed at how…childish it seemed now. I didn't know how I was going to survive, leaving Tristan behind when I had to move. Seriously, we just graduated middle school though it seemed like the biggest problem in my life at the time. Standing here now, two years later…it seemed like a distant memory; childish even. Middle school seemed like nothing compared to now; especially now that we're going to be juniors. Life just seemed to change and we seemed to mature with it.
"I figured out the puppy's name," Tristan spoke up, interrupting the silence. I turned to him, almost forgetting where I was.
"You did?" I asked.
Tristan laughed, "Yeah. Her name's Brownie."
I was shocked by the name and made a weird face, causing Tristan to laugh again. A feeling of warmth filled my body, knowing that I could still make Tristan laugh.
"Brownie, huh?" I asked, looking down at the white Shiatsu that was now rolling around on Tristan's front lawn.
"Yeah, the neighbor's eight year old daughter, Grace, named it Brownie," Tristan informed from beside me. I nodded and turned back to Tristan with a slight smile.
~*~
I found myself standing in the kitchen as Tristan was placing the donut box on the kitchen table. Tristan took a step out of the kitchen, giving me a view of his back.
He yelled, "Scott! I have donuts!"
"I'm here," Scott said eagerly from behind me. I turned around to be taken aback by the running boy. He stepped passed me and took a seat in a kitchen chair. Tristan walked to the fridge and opened it.
"You want some milk, Scott?" he asked, peering into the fridge.
"Yeah," Scott said distractedly as he opened the box and took out a chocolate covered donut. He set it on a napkin.
As Tristan poured milk into a plastic cup, I stared at Scott. Scott definitely looked like an eight year old boy. Unlike Tristan, Scott had a buzz cut. Scott took a big bite of a donut and chewed.
"Would you like something?" Tristan asked, looking at me for a second before setting the cup of milk in front of his little brother.
"No I'm fine," I assured Tristan with a polite smile. Just then Scott looked up from his donut and stared at me.
"Who are you?" Scott asked candidly as he continued to stare.
"Scott, this is my friend," Tristan started, motioning a hand to me.
Before Tristan could continue, Scott hastily said, "Hi Tristan's friend."
I laughed as Tristan put on a slightly shocked and amused look.
"Scott, her name's Sienna," Tristan continued with a slight laughter in his voice. Scott looked back up from his donut and stared at me.
"Hey Scott," I greeted after realizing that Scott wasn't going to say anything else. I was expecting for Scott not to remember me especially when he was only six years old at the time.
"Hi Sienna," Scott said before bringing his attention back to his donut. Yeah, he doesn't remember me. Tristan let out a laugh as he turned his attention back to me.
His blue-grey eyes looked into mine as he suggested, "Ready to go?"
I nodded and Tristan turned back to Scott and said, "I'll be back later."
I was leaving the kitchen with Tristan behind me when Scott spoke up. We turned around and I peered over Tristan's shoulder at Scott.
"Can I invite Grace over?" Scott asked with donut in his mouth. I smiled.
"Well," Tristan thought, rubbing his neck with his hand, "I guess. But you have to let Jon know."
Scott made a disgusted face at the mention of other older brother, "But Jon's sleeping right now." Scott glanced up at the ceiling; picturing his other older brother sprawled out on his bed sleeping.
"Well, you have to wait until Jon's awake or for me to get back before you invite her over. Okay?"
"Fine," Scott said grudgingly as he turned back to his food. Tristan turned back with an exasperated sigh. I laughed and Tristan smiled.
We walked out the door and again, I was greeted by Brownie. I bent down and couldn't help my urge to pet the puppy.
"Our house is like Brownie's second home," Tristan laughed. I looked up at him to see amusement in his eyes. Tristan continued, "Scott's been hanging out with Grace. The dog just seems to tag along."
"How old is Grace?" I asked, petting the puppy.
"Grace is eight just like Scott," Tristan answered from above me. I gave a last pat before standing up, facing Tristan.
"Remember we gave a name to her?" I asked, pointedly glancing at the Shiatsu. Brownie ran across the lawn and over to her own house.
Tristan laughed as we headed over to the Lexus, "Yeah."
I gave one last look out the window from my seat in the passenger seat of the Lexus at Tristan's front lawn. Tristan's lawn just brought back memories and it gave me an uneasy feeling; just slightly. A thought suddenly came to my mind. Things changed but did Tristan? The Tristan I fell for back then? Is he still the same?
"Um…" I started, giving myself some distraction, "I forgot what we named Brownie. Do you remember?"
I looked at Tristan as he drove down the street. I saw Tristan's brow furrow before saying in a serious tone, "I think we named it Beach."
I instantly laughed; a laugh that felt good. I suddenly felt as if I belonged back in California; I didn't feel like an outsider. Tristan laughed and looked at me amusingly.
"We didn't name it Beach," I laughed again with a shake of my head, finally feeling comfortable.
"I thought you said you forgot what we named Brownie," Tristan retorted with a laugh. I couldn't help but smile in amusement, crinkling my nose a bit. What Tristan said was typical of what the Tristan back then would say. I felt warmth in me, feeling relaxed that Tristan was the same in certain ways.
"I think I would have remembered if we named it Beach," I explained. I shook my head in disbelief again.
"Alright I lied, we didn't name it Beach," Tristan started. "Though that would have been a pretty funny name," he said on a different note with a laugh.
"I think we named it Sandy," he said after a moment, answering my question.
"Sandy," I said the word, trying it out aloud. I laughed. "Yeah, I think we named it Sandy." I thought about it for a moment, picturing the puppy. "To me it seems more like a Sandy than a Brownie," I cared to say.
Tristan let out a little chuckle from beside me. I looked at him with a slightly raised eyebrow, "What?"
"I agree. Looks like a Sandy," he said, turning back to the road. He stole a glance at me and said, "But her nickname should be Beach."
I laughed again, "Sure. Whatever you want." I couldn't deny the fact that I loved hearing Tristan's voice and laugh.
With a surprise, Tristan suddenly pulled up to the curb in front of my house. Out the windshield, I noticed Alex bouncing a basketball in front of his house. He shot the ball, retrieved it, and finally noticed our car. Alex bounced the ball in front of him as he furrowed his brow, looking at the car.
Tristan turned off the engine. The ride's over. I turned to look at Tristan; my brown eyes daring to look into Tristan's.
"Oh yeah," he said as if remembering something. "I forgot to tell you. Did you know that Alex is your neighbor?" Tristan glanced at Alex before looking at me.
"Yeah, I actually ran into him the other day," I informed with a nod. I didn't mention the fact that we met because he jumped into my backyard.
"Thanks for the ride," I said with a smile. I really meant it. The ride just didn't get me a ride home but an opportunity to see Tristan again. Thank you Mrs. Mason.
"No problem," Tristan replied with a smile of his own. As I placed my hand on the door handle, my eyes still on Tristan, he opened his door. He must have seen my confusion because he explained, "I'm going to talk to Alex."
"Oh," I said with a nod before stepping out of the Lexus. I let out a shaky breath at my awkwardness. Before I could think anything else, I was instantly greeted by Alex's voice.
"Hey Tristan and Sienna?" Alex greeted back, though it ended as a question; obviously surprised to see Tristan and me together. I smirked. Tristan rounded the car and met up with me on the sidewalk. Alex walked over to the car, basketball in hand as he approached us.
"Can you believe Sienna's here?" Alex asked, looking at Tristan in front of him. Tristan laughed.
"Yeah, caught me by surprise," Tristan answered with a glance towards me. I nervously laughed.
"Well, thanks for the ride again," I thanked again as I looked at Tristan. I felt awkward. I don't do awkward situations.
Tristan smiled and said, "Yeah…"
He fully turned to me, leaving Alex out of the circle. He had a hint of a nervous look on his face but it vanished when he said, "It was good seeing you."
I smiled and agreed, "Yeah. It was." It was.
"Um…I'll see you later," I said. Then I turned and looked at Alex.
"See you later too Alex," I said with a smile. I turned my back towards them as I headed up to my front door. The whole walk up my driveway and over to the door, I tried to breath normally.
I stepped into the house and shut the door. I risked peering into the window to see that Tristan's car was still parked outside. I leaned to the left and was able to see that Alex and Tristan were talking.
Author's Note:
Thank you oh so much for the reviews! It made me smile! :) SHOUT OUT TO: FigrSk8r13
I hope you guys like this chapter! You got to have a look into Sienna's relationship with Tristan.
I hope you guys picked up on the fact that Sienna was quiet and kept to a low profile back when she was in California. She managed to 'grow as a person' and know who she is when she lived in New York (and with the help of attending high school). And now she's back in California with a sort of a new personality.
WELL, what do you think of Tristan? Alex? Brenton? Seth? Noah? Mrs. Mason?
Haha, tell me what you think and what you would like to see happen to Sienna this summer.
Clue On Next Chapter:
Next chapter will be in third person point of view. And let's just say you'll get a better look into Tristan's and Alex's relationship. And the relationship of Sienna's old California friends.
You guys will be able to learn that outside of Sienna's world, there's a whole other world going on with her old friends. Sienna's move to CA for the summer is a definate surprise and she doesn't exactly know that she'll be unknowingly interfering with her old friends' lives. :)
REVIEW! MERRY CHRISTMAS!